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Long Beach Island is an 18-mile-long barrier island in southern Ocean County, New Jersey, where the Pine Barrens give way to the blue waters and white sandy shores of the bay and ocean. Its natural island geography has removed the island from some of the hustle and bustle of the rest of the New Jersey shore, providing a mix of lazy, picturesque, second-home shore towns and more vibrant tourist destinations. The island and its beaches are often recognized as some of the best in New Jersey. In 2009, NJ.com put Long Beach Island at second place in its top 10 NJ beaches.

Communities

Long Beach Island is home to a diverse array of communities that includes Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Ship Bottom, Surf City and Long Beach Township. The latter has a variety of sub-communities that includes Beach Haven Terrace, Brant Beach, Brighton Beach, Haven Beach, High Bar Harbor, Holgate and Loveladies. The north end of the island, where you'll find such towns as Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light, is more quiet and residential, while the central and southern end is home to spots like Surf City and Beach Haven, offering more dining, amusements and entertainment. Across the bay from Long Beach Island, the mainland communities of Forked River, Waretown, Barnegat Township, Stafford Township, Tuckerton, Eagleswood and Little Egg Harbor make up the greater community.

Lodging

Long Beach Island has a range of beach towns, offering something for those who prefer quiet and seclusion, and those who crave entertainment, nightlife and amusements. In the north, you'll find few hotels and businesses, and can enjoy a quiet, seaside neighborhood without the noise and commercialism of typical beach tourist towns. There are many home and condo management companies up and down the island through which you can rent a vacation home. Towns like Surf City, Beach Haven and Ship Bottom have a variety of lodging choices, from plush hotels to inexpensive motels to Victorian inns and bed and breakfasts. When choosing lodging in Long Beach Island, consider whether you want to be on Long Beach Boulevard, the main artery of the island and home to much of its entertainment, on the beach side or on the bay side.

Travel

The bay that helps to set LBI apart from other Jersey shore towns makes it a little more difficult to get to. There is only one road onto the island, which can cause significant traffic backups on weekends and summer holiday periods. Route 72 connects the island with Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway. Visitors can find local air travel from Atlantic City International Airport about 40 miles south of LBI and Philadelphia International Airport about 75 miles west. New York City is approximately 100 miles north of LBI.

Beach and Natural Activities

The main draw of Long Beach Island is its 18 miles of shoreline. Each community within the town regulates its own beaches and paid beach badges are required. Surfing is available up and down the island at 19 designated beaches, in towns like Surf City, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven and Harvey Cedars. The northern tip of the island is home to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, where you can climb the town's namesake, 150-year-old lighthouse to enjoy history and wide-sweeping views across Barnegat Bay and surrounding towns and park lands.

Entertainment

The main strip of Long Beach Island is home to traditional beach entertainment, from amusement parks to nightlife to eclectic dining establishments. Visitors can find everything from fine dining to crab shacks to cafes along Long Beach Boulevard and adjacent roadways. Given the proximity of LBI's towns, it's not difficult to get from one town to the next. There is no boardwalk on Long Beach Island, but there are several amusement parks, including Fantasy Island Amusement Park and Thundering Surf Waterpark. Miniature golf courses line the main drag of LBI. Iconic New Jersey shore bands like The Nerds and The Pickles frequent LBI hot spots like Joe Pops, Sea Shell Resort and Beach Club and Buckalew's.

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Resources

About the Author

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Photo Credits

Barnegat lighthouse on Long Beach Island image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com